Machine for making fiber tubes



Sept. 24, 1929. H. PARKER MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER TUBES Filed July 11, 1924' 3 Sheets-Sheet QUE? Sept. 24, 1929.

H. PARKER MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER TUBES Filed July 11, 1924 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 24, 1929. PARKER MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER TUBES Filed July 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES HOWARD PARKER, OF BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE,

ASSIGNOB TO BROWN COMPANY,

OF BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE MACHINE ron Manner-Inna 'runns Application filed July 11, 1924. Serial No. 725,403.

This invention has relation to instrumentalities for automatically making fiber tubes, such, for example, as those produced by winding about a mandrel a web or wet pulp delivered from a. vat of aqueous pulp by a suitable forming and conveying mechanism.

In machines for this purpose, such as illustrated in Letters Patent No. 1,147 ,262, granted on the application of Howard Parker on I 1 July 20, 1915, or in an application of Howard Parker Serial No. 715,086, Patent No.. 1,651,407, filed May 22, 1924, the mandrels are automatically supplied seriatim to a forming point'or statlon in the machine at which each is located between and in parallelism with a plurality (usually three) rolls, with which it rotates in peripheral unison, so that the 'web of pulp fed thereto may be wound thereon. Heretofore these rolls, which from their functions may be termed base and press rolls respectively, have been mounted in end bearings, and thus have all been necessarily of relatively large diameter to resist such bending or distortion as would occur under operating conditions due to their length. It has followed, therefore, that while such machines are capable of producing efiiciently and economically long tubes of relatively large diameter,say three inches or more, the production of long tubes of small diameter (say inch to 2 inches) has been inhibited by reason of the necessarily large diameter of the forming rolls.

The object of the present invention is to provide an instrumentality by means of which long tubes of small diameter may be produced. The manner in which this is accomplished and a machine embodying the invention are described and set forth in the following portion of this specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 presents in vertical section that portion of the machine which is providedr with forming rolls and associated mechanism constituting one form of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a portion of the machine with the press rolls lifted from the base roll,

to permit the removal of a filled mandrel and its replacement by an empty mandrel.

cation .Serial No.

Figure 3 is a somewhat similar view, on a larger scale,'showing the tube in the process of format on, with the forming rolls in operating position, but illustrates an alternative ilegice for removal of water from the wet Figure 4 is a detail view, showing in side view one of the felt guide rolls, the associated forming press roll, and the abutment bearing for the last-mentioned roll. 1

Figure 5 illustrates more or less conventionally a portion of a complete machine in WhlCll the present invention is incorporated.

In machines such as heretofore employed, there s a suitable web-forming mechanism, by WlllCll the aqueous pulp contained in a vat is formed, conveying means by which the wet web is supplied to the forming point of the machine to be wound about a mandrel, and automatic mechanism'by which the supply of the web is automatically interrupted for that length of time required to permit the complete formation of a tube, its removal from the forming point or station and the place-. ment of a fresh or empty mandrel at the 1 forming point to receive the on-coming end of the interrupted web. So far as the present invention is concerned, any suitable instrumentalities for attaining these results may be employed if desired, so that it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to those which are hereinafter described. Moreover any suitable timing mechanism may be utilized for ensuring the properly timed operation of the several mechanisms of the machine. In this connection, reference may be had to the Letters Patent issued onthe application of Howard Parker No. 1,497,344, June 10, 1924, and to his ap li- 715,086, Pate at 0. 1,651,407, for those details of construction and operation of a complete machine which are not herein shown or described.

In Figure 1 a portion ofthe framework at the tube-forming portion of the apparatus is shown, as indicated generally at 10, which supports certain of the instrumentalities to be described. At 11 there is a feeding table upon which many empty mandrels are positioned and from which they are removed, one 100 at a time, and located between the forming rolls; and at 12 there is a delivery table onto which the filled mandrels are successively delivered from the winding or forming point, these several tables being preferably in the form of tracks to support the ends, only, of the mandrels which project beyond the tubes which are formed thereon. Suitable carrier wheels, of which one is indicated at 13, are employed, and are automatically and intermittently operated to feed the mandrels to and away from the forming or winding position, each wheel being provided with pivoted arms 14 and associated chucks 15 for loosely enterin the ends of the mandrels. The front mandre on the table 11 rests against a stop 16, which at the proper time is automatically raised to release it, and at the same time a stop 17 descends to engage the second mandrel, the movement of these two stops being simultaneous but in opposite directions and being properly timed in reference to the operation of the other instrumentalities of the machine. A more complete description of these several parts is given in the application last herein mentioned.

The forming rolls comprise a. base roll 18 and press rolls 19, 20. These rolls are of any length that ma be desired, say, six to ten feet. The base r01 18 is journaled in any suitable stationary bearings afforded by the framework, and may be of such relatively large diameter that it will not bend between its ends, by reason of its own weight or of the operating conditions. About this roll is passed the felt or apron 21 by which the wet pulp web is supplied to the mandrel which is in win-ding position. The two cooperating press rolls 19 and 20 are of small diameter so that, when they are brought to such position that their adjacent peripheries are equidistant from each other and the base roll, an imaginary cylinder tangential to the rolls is of very small diameter. The press rolls are supported on slides (one only eing shown), of which one is indicated at 22, each of these slides being Vertically movable in a stationary guideway 23 firmly fixed to a stud shaft 24 on which one of the carrier wheels 13 is rotatably mounted. It will be understood that the construction of the guideways and of the slides is the same at both ends of the respective rolls so that a description of these parts at one end of the roll will sufiice for both.

* Each slide at its lower end is provided with laterally-extending arms or brackets 25, and in these arms or brackets are journaled two relatively large guide rolls 26, 26, around which there is" passed a drier felt or apron indicated conventionally 'at 27. The slides 22 are connected by angle beams or cross bars indicated at 28 by which they are rigidly con nected. The two press rolls 19 and 20 have their axes located in a horizontal plane considerably below the horizontal plane of the axes of the guide rolls 26, and they are provided with reduced ends which are mounted in journals 29 at the lower ends of the slides 22. Inasmuch, however, as these rolls 19 and 20 are of relatively great length and of small diameter, they would tend in operation to bend intermediate their end portions, and consequently to prevent this they are also journaled 111 bearings intermediate their ends. I These intermediate bearings may be continuous or the bearings may be formed in sections as it were. As shown, there is secured to the under side of the cross bar 28 a plurality of blocks 30 which are provided with concave portions to engage the peripheries of the two adj acentrolls 19 and 20. Associated with each block there are two bearing members 31, 31, which are also provided with concave portions to engage the peripheries of the rolls 19, 20, respectively. Thus each block 30 and its associated members 31 constitutes a lateral thrust bearing for the two press rolls. The concavity formed by the block and each associated member 31 is of course complemental to the periphery of the press roll and constitutes an arc of something more than 180so as to support the roll against downward bending when the press rolls are lifted, as well as to resist upward or lateral thrust in either direction. The drier felt 27 as shown in Figure 1, passes beneath one of the'guide rolls 26, thence under the two press rolls, and thence under the other guide roll 26. The press rolls are spaced far enough apart so as to hold a mandrel newl placed between them, as well as the man rel while the pulp web is being wound thereon, in proper position without danger of dislocation, the drier felt being sulliciently flexible and yielding so that it will in its travel follow the contour of the mandrel and the tube being formed thereon without causing a malformation of the tube. Any suitable mechanism may be utilized for moving the slides 22 to bring the press rolls into and out of operating position. The same mechanism which is utilized infthe machine illustrated in the Parker application Serial No. 715,086, Patent No. 1,651,407, may be utilized for this purpose, so that it is not necessary to describe the same in detail. It may be stated, however, that the two slides 22 are connected by links 32 to the free end of a frame 33 pivoted at 34. The frame 33 is connected at its free end by links 35 to floating levers 36,-one only of each of these being shown as they are duplicated on the machine. The floating lever 36 at one end is connected to the arm of an eccentric strap 37, and at its other end there is a piston 38 working in a dash pot 39 carried by the frame 33 intermediate its ends. If the breaking or interrupting of the web which is being supplied to the mandrel for the formation of a tube is controlled by the thickness of the tube, the end of unease OIIIIG Of the floating levers 36-extends t e weig ted cord 40 wrapped about the drum 41 of a thickness adjuster. The thickness adjuster is so arranged as to trip-a lever 42 when beyond the tube has almost reached its desired ultisufficient length of time, too erate the levers 36 and swing upwardly the rame 33 so as to raise the slides 22 and thus move the press rolls and the felt guiding rolls to an inactive position as shown in Figure 2, so as to permit the removal of the mandrel with the completed tube thereon and the introduction of an empty mandrel to the winding or forming position. Upon the frame 33 may be journaled additional guide rolls 44, 45 for the drier felt.

As shown in Figure 5, the drier felt may be passed under and over various guide rolls through squeeze rolls and otherwise treated so as to remove therefrom the water and any particles of pulp. which may be absorbed thereby or adhere thereto. In this last-mentioned figure, I have illustrated conventionally a vat 50 to which the aqueous pulp is supplied and which is provided witha suitable cylinder mold or other web-forming mechanism as indicated at 51. As shown the felt or apron 21, by which the web is supplied to the mandrel and which passes about the'base roll 18, is caused to pass around a couch roll 52 so as to receive the web which forms on the cylinder mold 51. Suitable whipping, washmg and suction apparatuses and devices'are utilized for cleaning and drying the felt 21 after it has delivered the web to themandrel and before it'again reaches the couch roll 52. Any suitably operated mechanism located at any convenient oint may be employed under the control of the thickness measurer or otherwise to interrupt the web being de livered by the conveyor or felt 21 when the tube being formed has reached a predetermined thickness, so it will be understood that I am not limited to the particular mechanism which I have illustrated for this purpose. This mechanism as illustrated is substantial ly the sameas that illustrated in the lastmentioned 7 application filed by Howard Par er in which the web is interrupted before being delivered-by the cylinder mold to the conveying devices by which it is conveyed to the mandrel. 'It maybe sufficient to state that the breaker felt is indicated conventionally at 53 and passes aroundguide rolls 54, 55, on a frame which is automatically moved iston 38 and has secured thereto a,-

into and out of engagement with the cylinder mold. Power-transmitting coimections between the frame which is indicated at 56 and operating mechanism on-the machine is employed for causing the actuation ofthe frame" at the proper time, all as .set forth in said Parker application. In Figure 5 the breaker web 53 has been brought into engagement with the cylinder mold 51 so as to remove the web therefrom and thus interrupt the su ply of web to the mandrel on which the tube is then being formed. The breaker felt is whipped, dried and cleaned by any suit able instrumentalities and the web which is. thereon is removed by a couch roll 57 from which it is scraped by a doctor 58 into a receptacle indicated at 59. e

I do not herein claim specifically any particular-form of breaking mechanism or any particular form of timing mechanism or mechanism for effecting the movements of the guides by which the press rolls are operated, apart from their association and their coordination and cooperation with the press rolls, the essential featuresof the present invention comprehending those incident to the accurate formation of tubes of small diameter such as. cannot be accurately formed by forming rolls which are all journaled only at their ends.

It' is important in the formation of the tubes that the water which is expressed from the pulp during the winding of the web upon the mandrel may be properly removed. This may be accomplished in any one of several ways. For example in Figure 1 the large base roll comprises 'a shell provided with numerous perforations, and within the shell there is a stationary segmental member 60 below the forming or winding point of the machine. This segmental member is provided with a slot or throat 61 connected by a conduit 62 with a vacuum pump (not shown) so that the water which is expressed from the tube may be sucked through the felt 21 and removed. If desired, however, a construction as-shown in Figure 3 may be employed,in which case the block 64, corresponding to those at 20 in Figure .1, is provided with a throat or chamber 65 connected by a conduit 66 with a vacuum pump not shown, so that the water which is expressed from the tube may be sucked through the drier felt 27. Other equivalent means may be employed for removing the excess water.

The peripheries of the press rolls and the associated bearing surfaces of the intermediate abutment bearings are preferably polished, and they are lubricated by thewater which is expressed fromthe pulp, so that the press rolls do not need necessarily to be rotated by power. 'But ordinarily I afiix on each end of each of the guide rolls 26 a gear 67. The gears 67 intermesh with gears 68, with which also engage pinions 69 on the ends of the press rolls (see Figure 4). The drier felt 27 is driven byany suit-- able driving mechanisms, and, by reason. of its large area of contact with the guide rolls :26, effects their rotation, so that, through the intermediate gearing, the press. rolls are driven at a peripheral speed equal to that of the guide rolls and to the feed of thefelt 27. Similarly, by the use of proper driving mechanism, the web conveyor or makeup felt 21 is driven at a speed equal to that of thefelt 27. 1

The bearings, which resist or prevent the springing of the press rolls, are of course located within the zones of the tube being formed on the mandrel, and are thus intermediate the ends of the rolls. I may dispense with the end bearings for the press rolls, but I ordinarily prefer to employ them, particularly when the intermediate gearing between the felt guide rolls 26 and said press rolls is used. The slides, in which the press rolls and the guide rolls are supported, constitute a carrier therefor, but any other suitable mechanism may be utilized by which the forming "rolls are separated and brought back to operating position. i

I do not herein claim as my sole invent-ion rality of forming rolls comprising a-base roll and a pair of press rolls, a trave mg felt between said press rolls and said mandrel, and means for applying suction to the stretch of said felt between said press rolls.

5. In a machine for making a fiber tube, a mandrel, means for supplying a sheet or web'of fibrous material to said mandrel, a plurality of forming rolls comprising a base roll andvapair of press rolls, and means fgr applying suction to the surface of said tube adjacent to one of said rolls to remove water expressed from said tube.

6. In a machine for making a fiber tube,a mandrel, a plurality of forming rolls comprising a base roll and a pair of press rolls,

means for supplying a sheet or web of fibrous material to said mandrel, said suppl ing 'means including a traveling felt locate between said mandrel and said base roll, a second traveling felt located between said mandrel and said press rolls, and means for applying suction to one of said felts at a point where it is in contact with the tube body being formed on the mandrel.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

HOWARD PARKER.

the combination with the forming rolls (comprising a base roll and press rolls), a mandrel and a traveling felt located between the press rolls and the mandrel, of guide rolls for the felt located on both sides of the press roll, or the means by which the press rolls are rotated.

What I claim is 1. Ina machine for making fiber tubular bodies, a mandrel, a plurality of forming rolls comprising a base roll and a pair of press rolls, and a suction chamber located between the press rolls for water expressed from the tube being formed.

2. In a machine for making fiber tubular bodies, a mandrel, a plurality of forming rolls comprising rolls located above and below the mandrel for engaging the mandrel and the tubular body being formed thereon,

and suction means located above said mandrel and adjacent thereto to receive water expressedfrom said tube.

3. In a machine for makingfibertubular bodies, a mandrel, a plurality of forming rolls comprising upper and lower rolls located respectively above and below the mandrel for engaging the mandrel and the tubular body formed thereon, a traveling felt located between said mandrel and upper rolls and adapted to yield between said upper rolls in passing over said mandrel, and suction means between said upper rolls for water expressed from the tube being formed.

4:. In a machine for making a fiber tube, a mandrel, means for supplying a sheet or web of fibrous material to said mandrel, a plu- 

